Sounders end Crew win streak
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Roger Levesque scored and the Seattle Sounders ended the Columbus Crew’s 24-game home unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory Saturday night.
The Crew had an opportunity to extend its MLS-record streak late in the game, but 2008 MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s penalty kick in the 84th minute was wide left. Columbus was awarded the penalty after Sounders defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado used both hands to push down Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven from behind near the endline.
Levesque’s first career goal came in the 36th minute. Midfielder Brad Evans sent a through ball to Fredy Montero near the penalty spot that Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer intercepted but Hesmer was unable to hold on to the ball and it fell to Levesque, who was left with a tap-in into an open goalmouth.
Levesque made his second career start and was playing in place of Nate Jaqua, who was suspended due to yellow-card accumulation.
Columbus (12-5-10) had not been beaten at home in 22 straight regular-season games, in addition to two playoff matches last season.
Seattle (10-7-11) defender Tyrone Marshall made an acrobatic play on the goal line in the 71st minute, flipping backward to redirect Steven Lenhart’s header away from an open goal to preserve the Sounders’ lead.
Moments later, Osvaldo Alonso nearly doubled the lead for Seattle when his long-range shot caromed off the right goalpost and hit Hesmer in the back, deflecting it toward the goal.
But the ball’s spin caused it to take an improbable bounce and reverse direction on the goal line.
Kasey Keller made the game’s best save in the 80th minute when he dove to his right to keep out Brian Carroll’s blistering 21-yard shot.
Crew defender Danny O’Rourke was carded in the 62nd minute and will miss the team’s game against at New England on Saturday due to yellow-card accumulation.
The game marked the return to Crew Stadium of Seattle coach Sigi Schmid, who led Columbus to its first MLS Cup championship last season.
Before the game the Sounders announced that defender Leo Gonzalez has been called up by the Costa Rica national team for a pair of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Gonzalez has 60 international appearances for Costa Rica, the last coming during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.
Costa Rica hosts Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday, then plays the United States in Washington D.C. on Oct. 14.
The Sounders don’t play again until Oct. 17 at Kansas City.